CENTRAL SYNAGOGUE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Clergy Study Administrative Assistant
Job Titles:
- Chief of Operations
- Events
Job Titles:
- Director of Event Operations
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of the LCLJ
Amanda Nichols
Assistant Director of the LCLJ
nicholsa@censysn.org
(212) 838-5122 x4090
Amanda is so excited to be a member of the LCLJ staff! She is originally from North Caldwell, NJ and grew up attending USY events, helping with tutoring Hebrew at the synagogue where her Mom teaches, and enthusiastically participating in the HaZamir teen choir. She earned a B.A. in Jewish studies and politics from Oberlin College and an M.S.Ed. in museum and childhood education from Bank Street Graduate School of Education. She has been working in the education departments at museums and cultural institutions around New York City for the past eight years, including the Wildlife Conservation Society, the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine (where she taught interfaith programming), and the Mount Vernon Hotel Museum. Most recently, Amanda was a third-grade associate teacher at the Ethical Culture Fieldston School.
In her free time, Amanda enjoys going to see musical theater, visiting museums, taking long walks in Inwood Hill Park, and cooking.
Amanda is so excited to be a member of the LCLJ staff! She is originally from North Caldwell, NJ and grew up attending USY events, helping with tutoring Hebrew at the synagogue where her Mom teaches, and enthusiastically participating in the HaZamir teen choir. She earned a B.A. in Jewish studies and politics from Oberlin College and an M.S.Ed. in museum and childhood education from Bank Street Graduate School of Education. She has been working in the education departments at museums and cultural institutions around New York City for the past eight years, including the Wildlife Conservation Society, the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine (where she taught interfaith programming), and the Mount Vernon Hotel Museum. Most recently, Amanda was a third-grade associate teacher at the Ethical Culture Fieldston School.
In her free time, Amanda enjoys going to see musical theater, visiting museums, taking long walks in Inwood Hill Park, and cooking.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- Vice President
Job Titles:
- Senior Rabbi of Central Synagogue in New York City
Rabbi Buchdahl was invested as a cantor in 1999 and also ordained as a rabbi in 2001 by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York where she was a Wexner Graduate Fellow. She earned a bachelor of arts in religious studies from Yale University in 1994. Born in Korea to a Jewish American father and a Korean Buddhist mother, Rabbi Buchdahl is the first Asian American to be ordained as a cantor or rabbi in North America. Prior to her service at Central Synagogue, Rabbi Buchdahl served as Associate Rabbi/Cantor at Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale, New York.
Rabbi Buchdahl has been nationally recognized for her innovations in leading worship, which draw large crowds both in the congregation's historic Main Sanctuary and via livestream and cable broadcast to viewers in more than 100 countries.
Rabbi Buchdahl has been featured in dozens of news outlets including the Today Show, NPR, and PBS and was listed as one of Newsweek's "America's 50 Most Influential Rabbis." She serves on the boards of the AJC, the Asia Society, the New York Board of Rabbis, and the Yale University President's Council.
Rabbi Buchdahl and her husband Jacob Buchdahl have three children.
Rabbi Angela Warnick Buchdahl serves as the Senior Rabbi of Central Synagogue in New York City and is the first woman to lead Central's Reform congregation in its 180-year history. Rabbi Buchdahl first joined Central Synagogue as Senior Cantor in 2006. In 2014, she was chosen by the congregation to be Senior Rabbi.
Rabbi Buchdahl was invested as a cantor in 1999 and also ordained as a rabbi in 2001 by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York where she was a Wexner Graduate Fellow. She earned a bachelor of arts in religious studies from Yale University in 1994. Born in Korea to a Jewish American father and a Korean Buddhist mother, Rabbi Buchdahl is the first Asian American to be ordained as a cantor or rabbi in North America. Prior to her service at Central Synagogue, Rabbi Buchdahl served as Associate Rabbi/Cantor at Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale, New York.
Rabbi Buchdahl has been nationally recognized for her innovations in leading worship, which draw large crowds both in the congregation's historic Main Sanctuary and via livestream and cable broadcast to viewers in more than 100 countries.
Rabbi Buchdahl has been featured in dozens of news outlets including the Today Show, NPR, and PBS and was listed as one of Newsweek's "America's 50 Most Influential Rabbis." She serves on the boards of the AJC, the Asia Society, the New York Board of Rabbis, and the Yale University President's Council.
Rabbi Buchdahl and her husband Jacob Buchdahl have three children.
Job Titles:
- Rabbi, Senior Director of Clergy Study
Rabbi Lorge serves on Jewish Women International's Clergy Taskforce to End Domestic Abuse and served as its Co-Chair for five years. He was also selected by the Reform movement to be a mentor for new rabbis coming out of rabbinical school. Rabbi Lorge is the current Book Review Editor of the Reform Jewish Quarterly, a journal for the Reform Jewish rabbinate. He has also served as a member of the Union for Reform Judaism's Youth Engagement Advisors, the Ackerman Professorship Advisory Council at HUC-JIR, the B'nai Ya'akov Council of the American Jewish Archives, and as an adjunct instructor at HUC-JIR.
Rabbi Lorge loves to play guitar, bake, pickle, and see theatre.
Rabbi Ari S. Lorge joined Central Synagogue's clergy team in 2013. In 2024, in addition to his rabbinic role, he was chosen to serve as the Senior Director of the Clergy Study.
Rabbi Lorge was ordained as a rabbi by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in Cincinnati, Ohio. He comes to the rabbinate as a product of the Reform movement, including its summer camps and national youth group. He grew up in Skokie, Illinois, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.
As a rabbinical student he was privileged to serve numerous congregations as well as Hillels in the Midwest and the South. Additionally, Rabbi Lorge spent a summer serving as a Critical Care Chaplaincy Intern at a Chicago-area hospital.
Rabbi Lorge serves on Jewish Women International's Clergy Taskforce to End Domestic Abuse and served as its Co-Chair for five years. He was also selected by the Reform movement to be a mentor for new rabbis coming out of rabbinical school. Rabbi Lorge is the current Book Review Editor of the Reform Jewish Quarterly, a journal for the Reform Jewish rabbinate. He has also served as a member of the Union for Reform Judaism's Youth Engagement Advisors, the Ackerman Professorship Advisory Council at HUC-JIR, the B'nai Ya'akov Council of the American Jewish Archives, and as an adjunct instructor at HUC-JIR.
Rabbi Lorge loves to play guitar, bake, pickle, and see theatre.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant
- Receptionist
Job Titles:
- Nursery School Teacher / Central Tots
Before her time at Central, Barbara Tanenbaum was a head teacher at the Dix Hills Jewish Center Preschool, where she taught toddlers, three- and four-year-olds and was instrumental in developing the Mommy and Me Program where she acted as a facilitator of parenting groups. Barbara also taught second grade in Metuchen, New Jersey, and in the Half Hollow School District in Dix Hills, Long Island, at the start of her career in early childhood education. There is nothing more gratifying and rewarding to her than participating in the growth and development of young children; it is her passion.
Before her time at Central, Barbara Tanenbaum was a head teacher at the Dix Hills Jewish Center Preschool, where she taught toddlers, three- and four-year-olds and was instrumental in developing the Mommy and Me Program where she acted as a facilitator of parenting groups. Barbara also taught second grade in Metuchen, New Jersey, and in the Half Hollow School District in Dix Hills, Long Island, at the start of her career in early childhood education. There is nothing more gratifying and rewarding to her than participating in the growth and development of young children; it is her passion.
Job Titles:
- Manager of Family Engagement and Central Tots
Job Titles:
- Director of HR Administration and Benefits
Beth Reinstein is a Cantorial Student with a mission to craft community through music. Born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Beth's first introduction to music came through joining Temple Beth Emeth's youth choir. It was there that she discovered and experienced how music can bring a community together. Through Temple Beth Emeth's music program, Beth fostered a love and passion for music that blossomed into her work.
In 2013 Beth received a degree in jazz and contemporary voice at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. While in college, Beth created a secular music project titled "Elle Casazza," active from 2012-2020. Performing as Elle, Beth and her band performed all over Chicagoland and toured nationally. The band recorded and released three albums together, and in 2015, they were named "8 Young Chicago Artists Making a Dent in Music" in Paste Magazine.
While pursuing her secular music career, Beth began to serve the greater Chicago area as a Cantorial soloist and song leader. Beth has served as a Cantorial soloist and song leader at Beth Emet the Free Synagogue, Temple Sholom, Anshe Emet Synagogue, Sukkat Shalom, and several other Chicago communities. She also performs with Jewish Rock Radio's group "Chicago Sings" and had the opportunity to debut her own liturgical compositions at URJ's Biennial in 2019. It was through her work as a Cantorial soloist that Beth realized her heart lay in Jewish music, and it was time to pursue the Cantorate.
Since her time in cantorial school, Beth has served as a student cantor at Washington Hebrew Congregation in Washington, DC. Beth is a third-year student at Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City and serves as a student Cantor at Central Synagogue.
Beth Reinstein is a Cantorial Student with a mission to craft community through music. Born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Beth's first introduction to music came through joining Temple Beth Emeth's youth choir. It was there that she discovered and experienced how music can bring a community together. Through Temple Beth Emeth's music program, Beth fostered a love and passion for music that blossomed into her work.
In 2013 Beth received a degree in jazz and contemporary voice at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. While in college, Beth created a secular music project titled "Elle Casazza," active from 2012-2020. Performing as Elle, Beth and her band performed all over Chicagoland and toured nationally. The band recorded and released three albums together, and in 2015, they were named "8 Young Chicago Artists Making a Dent in Music" in Paste Magazine.
While pursuing her secular music career, Beth began to serve the greater Chicago area as a Cantorial soloist and song leader. Beth has served as a Cantorial soloist and song leader at Beth Emet the Free Synagogue, Temple Sholom, Anshe Emet Synagogue, Sukkat Shalom, and several other Chicago communities. She also performs with Jewish Rock Radio's group "Chicago Sings" and had the opportunity to debut her own liturgical compositions at URJ's Biennial in 2019. It was through her work as a Cantorial soloist that Beth realized her heart lay in Jewish music, and it was time to pursue the Cantorate.
Since her time in cantorial school, Beth has served as a student cantor at Washington Hebrew Congregation in Washington, DC. Beth is a third-year student at Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City and serves as a student Cantor at Central Synagogue.
Job Titles:
- LCLJ Operations Administrator
Job Titles:
- Director of Camp Central and Nursery School Teacher
Bridget Meyer joined Central Synagogue in 2018 and loves teaching in a Twos classroom, as well as in LCLJ. Prior to coming to Central, Bridget obtained a dual master's degree in early childhood general and special education from Teachers College at Columbia University. In 2018, she also became certified to teach early childhood general education. In her free time, Bridget enjoys baking, yoga, and gymnastics.
Bridget Meyer joined Central Synagogue in 2018 and loves teaching in a Twos classroom, as well as in LCLJ. Prior to coming to Central, Bridget obtained a dual master's degree in early childhood general and special education from Teachers College at Columbia University. In 2018, she also became certified to teach early childhood general education. In her free time, Bridget enjoys baking, yoga, and gymnastics.
Brooklyn Michalowicz is a third-year Rabbinical student at HUC-JIR in New York. She spent the past year studying at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem where she received a certificate in Jewish Experiential Education. Raised in Los Angeles, Brooklyn is a proud UCLA Bruin with a B.A. in Sociology. She has since worked at Columbia/Barnard Hillel, Westchester Reform Temple, and Eisner Camp. Brooklyn loves to host events that help guests get creative, deepen their connections to one another, and explore their unique relationships to God. She is on the board of the HUC Soup Kitchen and enjoys singing/beat boxing, interior decoration, food runs to Trader Joe's, board games, trivia nights, and live music. She is very much so looking forward to working with Central staff and congregants!
Brooklyn Michalowicz is a third-year Rabbinical student at HUC-JIR in New York. She spent the past year studying at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem where she received a certificate in Jewish Experiential Education. Raised in Los Angeles, Brooklyn is a proud UCLA Bruin with a B.A. in Sociology. She has since worked at Columbia/Barnard Hillel, Westchester Reform Temple, and Eisner Camp. Brooklyn loves to host events that help guests get creative, deepen their connections to one another, and explore their unique relationships to God. She is on the board of the HUC Soup Kitchen and enjoys singing/beat boxing, interior decoration, food runs to Trader Joe's, board games, trivia nights, and live music. She is very much so looking forward to working with Central staff and congregants!
Cantor Daniel Mutlu was called to serve as Senior Cantor of Central Synagogue in 2017. Cantor Mutlu is a first-generation American born to Turkish Jewish parents. Raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, Cantor Mutlu attended the Yeshiva Academy Achei Tmimim where he forged a strong Jewish identity and a broad religious perspective. Cantor Mutlu went on to earn a bachelor's degree in vocal performance from New England Conservatory of Music in Boston in 2001. After serving as a cantorial soloist at Temple Emanuel of Worcester, Massachusetts, Cantor Mutlu pursued a master's degree in sacred music at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City. Upon ordination in 2008 he served as Cantor of Community Synagogue of Rye, New York, until 2011. He was then honored to serve as Cantor of Congregation Beth Israel of Houston, Texas, from 2011 to 2017. In Houston, Cantor Mutlu served on the board of the Anti-Defamation League Southwest Region, where he worked with their interfaith committee.
In 2011 Cantor Mutlu joined the faculty of the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music where he teaches in the Cantorial Ordination Program. He has also taught a variety of classes in the Cantorial Certification Program.
Cantor Mutlu has performed with many premier musical ensembles including the Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, Ars Lyrica, Houston Bach Society, Alarm Will Sound, and Park East Synagogue Choir. As a member of NYC's The Choir of Trinity Wall Street, he earned two glowing musical reviews from the New York Times. Cantor Mutlu can be heard as tenor soloist on Naxos' eight-disc set The Complete Haydn Masses as well as on Navona Records' Requiem: For the Living. He was a featured soloist on Musica Omnia and The Choir of Trinity Wall Street's release Handel: Israel in Egypt, which was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2013. Since 2019, Mutlu has been touring internationally as the main cantorial soloist for the Night Holocaust Project. His recent performances in Russia, Lithuania, and Germany have been nationally televised and future performances have been planned for Latvia and England. Cantor Mutlu walked the red carpet at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival where "The Song of Names," a movie featuring his first role in film, was screened and enthusiastically received. Mutlu is also featured in the documentary, "A Cantor's Head."
Cantor Mutlu proudly represented Central Synagogue at the 2019 URJ Biennial in Chicago where he led Friday evening Shabbat services for nearly 5,000 worshippers.
Cantor Dan joins the Central family with his wife Nina and their three children.
Cantor Daniel Mutlu was called to serve as Senior Cantor of Central Synagogue in 2017. Cantor Mutlu is a first-generation American born to Turkish Jewish parents. Raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, Cantor Mutlu attended the Yeshiva Academy Achei Tmimim where he forged a strong Jewish identity and a broad religious perspective. Cantor Mutlu went on to earn a bachelor's degree in vocal performance from New England Conservatory of Music in Boston in 2001. After serving as a cantorial soloist at Temple Emanuel of Worcester, Massachusetts, Cantor Mutlu pursued a master's degree in sacred music at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City. Upon ordination in 2008 he served as Cantor of Community Synagogue of Rye, New York, until 2011. He was then honored to serve as Cantor of Congregation Beth Israel of Houston, Texas, from 2011 to 2017. In Houston, Cantor Mutlu served on the board of the Anti-Defamation League Southwest Region, where he worked with their interfaith committee.
In 2011 Cantor Mutlu joined the faculty of the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music where he teaches in the Cantorial Ordination Program. He has also taught a variety of classes in the Cantorial Certification Program.
Cantor Mutlu has performed with many premier musical ensembles including the Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, Ars Lyrica, Houston Bach Society, Alarm Will Sound, and Park East Synagogue Choir. As a member of NYC's The Choir of Trinity Wall Street, he earned two glowing musical reviews from the New York Times. Cantor Mutlu can be heard as tenor soloist on Naxos' eight-disc set The Complete Haydn Masses as well as on Navona Records' Requiem: For the Living. He was a featured soloist on Musica Omnia and The Choir of Trinity Wall Street's release Handel: Israel in Egypt, which was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2013. Since 2019, Mutlu has been touring internationally as the main cantorial soloist for the Night Holocaust Project. His recent performances in Russia, Lithuania, and Germany have been nationally televised and future performances have been planned for Latvia and England. Cantor Mutlu walked the red carpet at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival where "The Song of Names," a movie featuring his first role in film, was screened and enthusiastically received. Mutlu is also featured in the documentary, "A Cantor's Head."
Cantor Mutlu proudly represented Central Synagogue at the 2019 URJ Biennial in Chicago where he led Friday evening Shabbat services for nearly 5,000 worshippers.
Cantor Dan joins the Central family with his wife Nina and their three children.
Job Titles:
- Manager of Operations, Adult Engagement
Job Titles:
- Director of Executive Administration
Chelsea first joined Central's staff in January 2012 as the Executive Assistant to Rabbi Peter Rubinstein and as the Clergy Study Manager. She is excited to return after having worked at 92NY for the past 9.5 years as the Director of Administration in the Bronfman Center for Jewish Life. Her proudest project there was managing and overseeing the creation of The Elie Wiesel Living Archive at the 92nd Street Y, New York.
Chelsea has extensive directorial and project management experience, as well as HR, bookkeeping, and feature film/commercial production coordination.
In her free time, she enjoys cooking, gardening, crafting, and DIY home improvement projects. Chelsea lives on the Upper West Side with her musician husband, Damien, and their daughter, Helen.
Chelsea first joined Central's staff in January 2012 as the Executive Assistant to Rabbi Peter Rubinstein and as the Clergy Study Manager. She is excited to return after having worked at 92NY for the past 9.5 years as the Director of Administration in the Bronfman Center for Jewish Life. Her proudest project there was managing and overseeing the creation of The Elie Wiesel Living Archive at the 92nd Street Y, New York.
Chelsea has extensive directorial and project management experience, as well as HR, bookkeeping, and feature film/commercial production coordination.
In her free time, she enjoys cooking, gardening, crafting, and DIY home improvement projects. Chelsea lives on the Upper West Side with her musician husband, Damien, and their daughter, Helen.
Job Titles:
- Early Childhood Director
- Director of Early Childhood Education
Cindy Grebow is the Early Childhood Director in Central Synagogue's Department of Youth and Family Engagement, which includes the May Family Nursery School, Central Tots, and Camp Central. Cindy joined Central after serving 14 years as the Director of the Nursery School at New York City's Congregation Habonim and, previously, as Assistant Director and co-head teacher for the Threes Program. Prior to her years at Habonim, she taught in the 92nd Street Y's Parenting Center, working with infants, toddlers, parents, and caregivers. Cindy represents Central Synagogue as a member of the Independent Schools Admissions Association of Greater New York (ISAAGNY), the Early Childhood Educators of Reform Judaism (ECE-RJ), the Jewish Education Project's (JEP) Peer Network for Early Childhood Directors, the North American Reggio Emilia Alliance (NAREA), and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). A trained opera singer and musician all of her life, Cindy recently began playing the ukulele and guitar and loves playing and singing with the children in the Nursery School. She is a passionate animal lover, and lives in Manhattan with her husband, daughter, dog, two cats, and a parrot.
Cindy Grebow is the Early Childhood Director in Central Synagogue's Department of Youth and Family Engagement, which includes the May Family Nursery School, Central Tots, and Camp Central. Cindy joined Central after serving 14 years as the Director of the Nursery School at New York City's Congregation Habonim and, previously, as Assistant Director and co-head teacher for the Threes Program. Prior to her years at Habonim, she taught in the 92nd Street Y's Parenting Center, working with infants, toddlers, parents, and caregivers. Cindy represents Central Synagogue as a member of the Independent Schools Admissions Association of Greater New York (ISAAGNY), the Early Childhood Educators of Reform Judaism (ECE-RJ), the Jewish Education Project's (JEP) Peer Network for Early Childhood Directors, the North American Reggio Emilia Alliance (NAREA), and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). A trained opera singer and musician all of her life, Cindy recently began playing the ukulele and guitar and loves playing and singing with the children in the Nursery School. She is a passionate animal lover, and lives in Manhattan with her husband, daughter, dog, two cats, and a parrot.
Job Titles:
- Chief Talent Officer
- Human Resources
Dalit Gurevich Perpinal joined Central Synagogue in 2002. She worked for six years with three-year-olds, and six years in the Purple Room. This is Dalit's first year as Head Teacher in the Green Room. Born in Israel, Dalit graduated from Haifa University and holds a degree in art and education. Before joining Central Synagogue, she taught Hebrew School at Manhattan's Park Avenue Synagogue, art in an elementary and high school in Israel, and served as a soldier/teacher in the Israel Defense Forces. Dalit is also an accomplished artist and has participated in solo and group exhibitions in New York and Israel. She lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn, with her husband, Moti, and son, Jonathan.
Dalit Gurevich Perpinal joined Central Synagogue in 2002. She worked for six years with three-year-olds, and six years in the Purple Room. This is Dalit's first year as Head Teacher in the Green Room. Born in Israel, Dalit graduated from Haifa University and holds a degree in art and education. Before joining Central Synagogue, she taught Hebrew School at Manhattan's Park Avenue Synagogue, art in an elementary and high school in Israel, and served as a soldier/teacher in the Israel Defense Forces. Dalit is also an accomplished artist and has participated in solo and group exhibitions in New York and Israel. She lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn, with her husband, Moti, and son, Jonathan.
Job Titles:
- Chief of Marketing and Communications
- Communications
Job Titles:
- Rabbi, Center for Exploring Judaism
David is an educator and music producer from central New Jersey who recently moved to Brooklyn. He graduated from NYU's Tisch School in 2020 and has since been working at various reform synagogues throughout New York and New Jersey, as well as tutoring for Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. Music and Judaism have always been important to David, and he looks forward to bringing these aspects together to cultivate a fun and inclusive Jewish community within the classroom.
David is an educator and music producer from central New Jersey who recently moved to Brooklyn. He graduated from NYU's Tisch School in 2020 and has since been working at various reform synagogues throughout New York and New Jersey, as well as tutoring for Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. Music and Judaism have always been important to David, and he looks forward to bringing these aspects together to cultivate a fun and inclusive Jewish community within the classroom.
Job Titles:
- Music Director
- Music and Audio Visual
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- Treasurer
Job Titles:
- Payroll Manager / Accounts Payable
Job Titles:
- Senior Director of Adult Engagement / Senior Director of Adult Engagement
Dr. Shira D. Epstein joined Central Synagogue in summer 2024 as Senior Director of Adult Engagement, building upon her specialization in experiential program design and educational leadership.
Dr. Epstein served for 20 years as Education faculty at the pluralistic William Davidson Graduate School of Education at Jewish Theological Seminary, and as Dean of School from 2019-2023. In these roles, she implemented and supervised training in pedagogy, text-based curriculum, and community engagement for congregational learning, adult education, and day school teaching, as well as Israel and social justice programming. She has published widely on gender equity and advancing women's leadership and received the Voices of Valor award in 2008 from the New York Board of Rabbis for her innovations in addressing gender-based violence in the Jewish community. She contributed a chapter titled Educational Jewish Moments: A Methodology for Educators to Self-Audit to Growing Jewish Minds, Growing Jewish Souls: Promoting Spiritual, Social, and Emotional Growth in Jewish Education (URJ Press, 2013).
Dr. Epstein received her EdD from Teachers College, Columbia University, where she was a Wexner Graduate Fellow. She holds an MA in Educational Theater from NYU and a BA in Women's Studies from Brown University.
Originally from Westchester, Dr. Epstein lives in Manhattan with her teenage son. They look forward to continuing the tradition of participating in the NYRR midnight run in Central Park, among other NYC adventures.
Dr. Shira D. Epstein joined Central Synagogue in summer 2024 as Senior Director of Adult Engagement, building upon her specialization in experiential program design and educational leadership.
Dr. Epstein served for 20 years as Education faculty at the pluralistic William Davidson Graduate School of Education at Jewish Theological Seminary, and as Dean of School from 2019-2023. In these roles, she implemented and supervised training in pedagogy, text-based curriculum, and community engagement for congregational learning, adult education, and day school teaching, as well as Israel and social justice programming. She has published widely on gender equity and advancing women's leadership and received the Voices of Valor award in 2008 from the New York Board of Rabbis for her innovations in addressing gender-based violence in the Jewish community. She contributed a chapter titled Educational Jewish Moments: A Methodology for Educators to Self-Audit to Growing Jewish Minds, Growing Jewish Souls: Promoting Spiritual, Social, and Emotional Growth in Jewish Education (URJ Press, 2013).
Dr. Epstein received her EdD from Teachers College, Columbia University, where she was a Wexner Graduate Fellow. She holds an MA in Educational Theater from NYU and a BA in Women's Studies from Brown University.
Originally from Westchester, Dr. Epstein lives in Manhattan with her teenage son. They look forward to continuing the tradition of participating in the NYRR midnight run in Central Park, among other NYC adventures.
Job Titles:
- Youth and Family Engagement Administrator
Job Titles:
- Assistant Executive Director, Growth & Strategy
- Director of Member Experience
- Membership
Elizabeth Brown is the Director of Member Experience at Central Synagogue, where she oversees the Membership team and the membership database. Elizabeth joined Central in 2011 after working in communications roles at several other non-profits, including Synergos and Island Harvest. While she is a born-and-raised Manhattanite, Elizabeth has also lived in Long Island, Santa Barbara, Maine (Colby College), Austin, and France. She currently resides in Harlem in the Bronx.
Elizabeth Brown is the Director of Member Experience at Central Synagogue, where she oversees the Membership team and the membership database. Elizabeth joined Central in 2011 after working in communications roles at several other non-profits, including Synergos and Island Harvest. While she is a born-and-raised Manhattanite, Elizabeth has also lived in Long Island, Santa Barbara, Maine (Colby College), Austin, and France. She currently resides in Harlem in the Bronx.
Elva Card is originally from the beautiful country of Belize. She migrated to the United States in 1991 and has been with Central Synagogue for over 20 years. Before entering teaching, Elva was a nurse. She is currently a teacher in the Purple Room. Elva likes to spend her weekends in the Pennsylvania Poconos and her favorite activities are reading , watching movies, and spending time with her family. In addition, her favorite holiday is Passover.
Elva Card is originally from the beautiful country of Belize. She migrated to the United States in 1991 and has been with Central Synagogue for over 20 years. Before entering teaching, Elva was a nurse. She is currently a teacher in the Purple Room. Elva likes to spend her weekends in the Pennsylvania Poconos and her favorite activities are reading , watching movies, and spending time with her family. In addition, her favorite holiday is Passover.
Job Titles:
- Program Manager for Social Justice
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of the LCLJ
Eve Morin joined the Central Synagogue community as a full-time educator in 2018. After graduating from Hofstra University in 2017 with a BA in education and English, she moved to New York City. Her first year in the city, Eve taught religious school at three congregations, including Central's LCLJ Downtown and reading and writing at an elementary school on Manhattan's Upper East Side.
Eve's Jewish journey began at Temple Emanuel in Worcester, Massachusetts, where her years in Hebrew School and youth group laid the foundation for her love of Jewish learning. She spent nine summers at URJ Crane Lake Camp as a camper and later a counselor, and her teen years as a participant in NFTY-Northeast. In college, she served as a leader of Hofstra Hillel. In her spare time, Eve enjoys walking to the park, watching Jeopardy!, and Tuesday night dinners with her sister.
Eve Morin joined the Central Synagogue community as a full-time educator in 2018. After graduating from Hofstra University in 2017 with a BA in education and English, she moved to New York City. Her first year in the city, Eve taught religious school at three congregations, including Central's LCLJ Downtown and reading and writing at an elementary school on Manhattan's Upper East Side.
Eve's Jewish journey began at Temple Emanuel in Worcester, Massachusetts, where her years in Hebrew School and youth group laid the foundation for her love of Jewish learning. She spent nine summers at URJ Crane Lake Camp as a camper and later a counselor, and her teen years as a participant in NFTY-Northeast. In college, she served as a leader of Hofstra Hillel. In her spare time, Eve enjoys walking to the park, watching Jeopardy!, and Tuesday night dinners with her sister.
Eve Morin
Assistant Director of the LCLJ
morine@censyn.org
(212) 838-5122 x4040
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Security
Job Titles:
- Floating Student Support Specialist
Job Titles:
- Rabbi, Director of Social Justice Organizing and Education
Rabbi Haber also has taught men and women on Rikers Island through Manhattan College. She and her wife, Rabbi Rachel Marder of Congregation Beth El in South Orange, New Jersey, are the rabbinic chaplains at Northern State Prison in Newark, New Jersey.
Ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Rabbi Haber was a Wexner Graduate Fellow and a Tisch Fellow. She previously served as the Director of Urban Mitzvah Corps in New Brunswick, New Jersey, as an intern at Temple Beth Jacob in El Centro, California, and as an intern with the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR). She is a contributor to the CCAR Press book, "Moral Resistance and Spiritual Authority: Our Jewish Obligation to Social Justice."
Rabbi Haber is currently pursuing her PhD at Union Theological Seminary. Prior to joining Central, she was a student rabbi at Temple Emanu-El in Westfield, New Jersey. Rabbi Haber earned a bachelor's degree from Mount Holyoke College and a master's in theological studies from Harvard Divinity School. Rabbi Haber, along with Rabbi Daniel Ross, helped lead the Spartan Race team during their time at Hebrew Union College.
Originally from New York, she lives in New Jersey with her wife and son.
As Director of Social Justice Organizing and Education since 2019, Rabbi Hilly Haber works with the lay leaders in Central's Community Organizing Leadership Team (COLT) on systemic justice issues such as criminal justice reform and immigration, as well as on other areas of social justice programming.
Rabbi Haber also has taught men and women on Rikers Island through Manhattan College. She and her wife, Rabbi Rachel Marder of Congregation Beth El in South Orange, New Jersey, are the rabbinic chaplains at Northern State Prison in Newark, New Jersey.
Ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Rabbi Haber was a Wexner Graduate Fellow and a Tisch Fellow. She previously served as the Director of Urban Mitzvah Corps in New Brunswick, New Jersey, as an intern at Temple Beth Jacob in El Centro, California, and as an intern with the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR). She is a contributor to the CCAR Press book, "Moral Resistance and Spiritual Authority: Our Jewish Obligation to Social Justice."
Rabbi Haber is currently pursuing her PhD at Union Theological Seminary. Prior to joining Central, she was a student rabbi at Temple Emanu-El in Westfield, New Jersey. Rabbi Haber earned a bachelor's degree from Mount Holyoke College and a master's in theological studies from Harvard Divinity School. Rabbi Haber, along with Rabbi Daniel Ross, helped lead the Spartan Race team during their time at Hebrew Union College.
Originally from New York, she lives in New Jersey with her wife and son.
Ilana is a full-time Educator in the Lese Center for Living Judaism, originally from Manalapan, New Jersey. She grew up attending the Reform synagogue, Temple Shaari Emeth and spent her teenage years as a madricha (teenage classroom assistant) in Hebrew school and as a member of NFTY (North American Federation of Temple Youth). Ilana graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor's in Classical Humanities and minors in Jewish Studies, History, and Religion. She has experience as a 6 th Grade Hebrew teacher at Temple Shaari Emeth, and in her free time, Ilana likes to read, visit art museums, and play the violin.
Ilana is a full-time Educator in the Lese Center for Living Judaism, originally from Manalapan, New Jersey. She grew up attending the Reform synagogue, Temple Shaari Emeth and spent her teenage years as a madricha (teenage classroom assistant) in Hebrew school and as a member of NFTY (North American Federation of Temple Youth). Ilana graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor's in Classical Humanities and minors in Jewish Studies, History, and Religion. She has experience as a 6 th Grade Hebrew teacher at Temple Shaari Emeth, and in her free time, Ilana likes to read, visit art museums, and play the violin.
Job Titles:
- Manager of Community Building, Adult Engagement
Job Titles:
- Youth and Family Engagement Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- President
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- Vice President
Job Titles:
- LCLJ Educator / T'Filah Specialist
- Specialist
Job Titles:
- Chief Development Officer
- Development
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Early Childhood Director
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- Secretary
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of the LCLJ
Lily Horowitch
Assistant Director of the LCLJ
horowitchl@censyn.org
(212) 838-5122 x4036
Job Titles:
- Rabbi, Director for the Center of Exploring Judaism
Lisa Rubin
Rabbi, Director for the Center of Exploring Judaism
rubinl@censyn.org
(212) 838-5122 x5002
Job Titles:
- Early Childhood Department Manager
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- Executive Assistant to the Senior Cantor
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- Program Manager for Adult Programs
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- Manager of B'Nei Mitzvah Programs and LCLJ Support
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- Director of the Lese Center for Living Judaism
Mikah Silverstone
Director of the Lese Center for Living Judaism
SilverstoneM@censyn.org
(212) 838-5122 x4043
Job Titles:
- Salesforce Support Engineer
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- Breakfast Program Coordinator
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- Rabbi, Director of Online Community Engagement
Rabbi Andrew Kaplan Mandel joined Central Synagogue full-time in 2023 after serving as the spiritual leader of The Neighborhood, our worldwide online community, as an intern for two years.
Raised in Rockland County, New York, Andrew earned his bachelor's degree in American history and literature at Harvard College, his master's degree in educational technology at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and his doctorate in adult learning and leadership at Teachers College, Columbia University. Andrew began his career as a seventh-grade English teacher in South Texas and then spent 16 years designing the national leadership programming at Teach For America. In 2014, he co-founded Strong East Ramapo, a volunteer advocacy organization addressing educational inequity in his hometown.
Seeking to connect spiritual nourishment with the pursuit of a more just world, Andrew entered Hebrew Union College in 2018 and has served as a pastoral intern at Union Temple, social justice intern at Orangetown Jewish Center, student rabbi at Temple Sinai of Newington, and an online Jewish curriculum designer and facilitator for leaders supported by the Schusterman Foundation. Andrew is an alumnus of the New York Wexner Heritage Program, the Froman Fellowship with the New Israel Fund, the year-long Hartman Institute Rabbinic Seminar, the 92nd Street Y Jewish Innovation Fellowship, the "Be Wise" fellowship, the Tisch Fellowship and Atra Center for Rabbinic Innovation. He is also the founder of Tzedek Box (www.tzedekbox.org), a new ritual in service of the Jewish call for justice, and was named one of New York Jewish Week's "36 to Watch" in 2023.
Andrew lives with his partner, Mozart, in Long Island City, Queens, and loves cooking, singing, running, and spending time with his two nephews.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Membership
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- Marketing Production Manager
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- Adult Engagement Team Administrator
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- Rabbi, Senior Director of Youth & Family Education
Job Titles:
- Director of Developmental Learning & Special Education
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- Director of Downtown Programming
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- Member of the Officers Team
- Vice President
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- Rabbi, Director of Jewish Culture and Programming
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- Director of Family Engagement & Central Tots
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- Rabbi, Director of Adult Education
Job Titles:
- Nursery School Teacher & Admissions Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- Vice President
Job Titles:
- Assistant Audio - Visual Manager
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Communications